Hinge

ABSTRACT

A hinge includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member defining a through hole, a sleeve member fixed to the second connecting member, a shaft movably mounted to the first connecting member, and a fastener. The sleeve member defines a spiral slide groove therein. A clamping protrusion extends from the first connecting member for slidably engaging in the slide groove. The shaft includes a fixing portion rotatably passed through the sleeve member and the through hole. The fastener is fixed to a distal end of the fixing portion.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a hinge.

2. Description of Related Art

A collapsible device, such as a notebook computer, or a clamshell mobilephone, generally including a main body and a display, often uses a hingeto interconnect the main body and the display. The hinge allows thedisplay to be rotatable with respect to the main body, and to be foldedwith the main body for saving space.

A hinge normally includes a first element and a second element fixed tothe main body and the display of the collapsible device, respectively.The first and second elements are rotatable relative to and in frictionengagement with each other for maintaining the display at any angle withrespect to the main body. However, in using the hinge, the display canbe rotated relative to the main body, but not be transversely movedalong the main body, which is quite inconvenient for users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of ahinge, the hinge including a first connecting member and a secondconnecting member.

FIG. 2 is an assembled, isometric view of the hinge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but viewed from another perspective.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing the second connecting memberbeing rotated an angle relative to the first connecting member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a hinge 5 includes afirst connecting member 10, a second connecting member 20, a shaft 30, asleeve member 40, a plurality of friction members 50, a C-shapedclamping member 60, a resilient member 70, a biasing member 80 formed bya plurality of stacked elastic rings, a washer 85, and a fastener 90. Inthe embodiment, the resilient member 70 is a coil spring, and thefastener 90 is a nut.

The first connecting member 10 includes a fixing body 12 defining aplurality of fixing holes 120 therein, and an interfering portion 122horizontally extending from a first side of the fixing body 12, adjacentto a first end of the fixing body 12. The fixing body 12 includes afirst connecting sidewall 16 perpendicularly extending from a secondside opposite to the first side of the fixing body 12, and a secondconnecting sidewall 18 perpendicularly extending from the first side ofthe fixing body 12, adjacent to a second end opposite to the first endof the fixing body 12. The first and second connecting sidewalls 16, 18define two double-D shaped through holes 160, 180 respectively, thethrough holes 160, 180 aligning with each other. A distal end of theinterfering portion 122 slantingly extends upwards to form aninterfering block 14, and a clamping protrusion 142 extends from theinterfering block 14.

The second connecting member 20 includes a connecting block 22 defininga plurality of fixing holes 220 therein, and a fixing portion 21perpendicularly extending from an end of the connecting block 22. An endof the fixing portion 21 extends away from the connecting block 22. Theend of the fixing portion 21 defines a through hole 212, a first fixingslot 210, and a second fixing slot 213. The first and the second fixingslots 210, 213 are opposite to each other across the through hole 212.

The shaft 30 includes a shaft body 31, and a fixing portion 34 extendingfrom a first end of the shaft body 31. A portion neighboring a secondend opposite to the first end of the shaft body 31 has a double-D shapedcross-section, corresponding to the through holes 160, 180 of the firstand second connecting sidewalls 16, 18, therefore, the shaft body 31 canbe slidably passed through the through holes 160, 180. The shaft body 31defines a clamping slot 32 along a circumference of the shaft body 31,away from the fixing portion 34. The fixing portion 34 has a double-Dshaped cross-section, and forms a threaded portion (not labeled) on acircumference of the fixing portion 34 at the distal end thereof forengaging with the fastener 90.

The sleeve member 40 axially defines a through hole 41 through a firstend to a second end opposite to the first end, for the shaft 30 to passtherethrough. A spiral slide groove 42 is defined in a circumference ofthe sleeve member 40, from the first end to the second end of the sleevemember 40. Two clamping posts 44 extend from an end surface at thesecond end of the sleeve member 40, opposite to each other across thethrough hole 41. Each of the clamping posts 44 has a shape,corresponding to a corresponding one of the first and the second fixingslots 210, 213 of the second connecting member 20. Thereby, the clampingposts 44 can be engaged in the first and the second fixing slots 210,213 respectively, for fixing the sleeve member 40 to the secondconnecting member 20.

Each friction member 50 defines a double-D shaped fixing hole 52, forunrotatably receiving the fixing portion 34 of the shaft 30.

Each elastic ring of the biasing member 80 is to provide elasticityalong an axial direction, to tighten the plurality of friction members50, the second connecting member 20, and the sleeve member 40. Thebiasing member 80 defines a round through hole 82, allowing the fixingportion 34 of the shaft 30 to rotatably pass therethrough.

The washer 85 defines a double-D shaped through hole 86 in a centerthereof, for unrotatably fitting about the fixing portion 34 of theshaft 30.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in assembly, the resilient member 70 isplaced between the first and second connecting sidewalls 16, 18. Theshaft body 31 of the shaft 30 is passed through the through hole 180 ofthe first connecting member 10, the resilient member 70, and the throughhole 160 of the first connecting member 10 in that order. The clampingmember 60 is clamped in the clamping slot 32, with opposite sides of theclamping member 60 resisting against the first connecting sidewall 16 ofthe first connecting member 10 and the resilient member 70. The fixingportion 34 of the shaft 30 is passed through the through hole 41 of thesleeve member 40, the fixing holes 52 of some friction members 50, thethrough hole 212 of the second connecting member 20, the fixing holes 52of the other friction members 50, the round through hole 82 of thebiasing member 80, and the through hole 86 of the washer 85 in thatturn, to engage in the fastener 90 via the threaded portion of thefixing portion 34, for preventing the washer 85, the biasing member 80,the plurality of friction members 50, the sleeve member 40, and thesecond connecting member 20 from disengaging from the shaft 30.

In the aforementioned assembly, the fixing potion 34 is rotatably passedthrough the through hole 212 of the second connecting member 20,therefore, the shaft 30 can be rotated relative to the second connectingmember 20. The sleeve member 40 is fixed to the second connecting member20 via engagement between the clamping posts 44 of the sleeve 40 and thefirst and second fixing slots 210, 213, respectively. The clampingprotrusion 142 of the first connecting member 10 is slidably engaged inthe slide groove 42 of the sleeve member 40.

Referring to FIG. 4, in use, the first connecting member 10 is fixed toone of a display and a base of a collapsible device (not shown), via theplurality of fixing holes 120, and the second connecting member 20 isfixed to the other one of the display and the base of the collapsibledevice, via the plurality of fixing holes 220. Therefore, during therotation of the display relative to the base, the second connectingmember 20 is rotated relative to the first connecting member 10,together with the sleeve member 40. As a result, the clamping protrusion142 of the first connecting member 10 slides in the slide groove 42, todrive the sleeve member 40 to move away from or towards the firstconnecting member 10 along the axial direction of the shaft 30. As aresult, the display is transversely moved relative to the base along theaxial direction of the shaft 30. In this process, the shaft 30 movestogether with the first connecting member 10, because of the clampingmember 60. The resilient member 70 can be distorted or restored.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the description or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplaryembodiments.

1. A hinge comprising: a first connecting member comprising a clampingprotrusion; a second connecting member defining a through hole; a sleevemember fixed to the second connecting member, the sleeve member defininga spiral slide groove in a circumference of the sleeve member from afirst end to a second end of the sleeve member, to slidably receive theclamping protrusion of the first connecting member; a shaft slidablymounted to the first connecting member and comprising a fixing portion,wherein the fixing portion is rotatably passed through the sleeve memberand the through hole of the second connecting member; and a fastenerfixed to a distal end of the fixing portion to prevent the sleeve memberand the second connecting member from disengaging from the shaft;wherein the second connecting member defines a first fixing slot and asecond fixing slot, and two clamping posts extend from an end surface ofthe sleeve member, for engaging with the first and second fixing slotsrespectively.
 2. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the first connectingmember comprises a fixing body and an interfering portion horizontallyextending from the fixing body, a distal end of the interfering portionslantingly extends upwards to form an interfering block, and theclamping protrusion extends from the interfering block.
 3. The hinge ofclaim 2, wherein the fixing body comprises a first connecting sidewalland a second connecting sidewall opposite and parallel to the firstconnecting sidewall, and each of the first and second connectingsidewalls defines a through hole for the shaft passing therethrough. 4.The hinge of claim 3, further comprising a clamping member and aresilient member, wherein the shaft defines a clamping slot for engagingwith the clamping member, the resilient member fits about the shaft andlocated between the first and second sidewalls, and opposite sides ofthe clamping member respectively resist against the first connectingsidewall and the resilient member.
 5. The hinge of claim 1, wherein thesleeve member axially defines a through hole for the shaft rotatablypassing therethrough, and the clamping posts are opposite to each otheracross the through hole of the sleeve member.
 6. The hinge of claim 1,further comprising a plurality of friction members, wherein theplurality of friction members are fitted about the fixing portion of theshaft and respectively located at opposite sides of the secondconnecting member.
 7. The hinge of claim 6, further comprising a biasingmember rotatably fitting about the fixing portion of the shaft, and awasher fixed to the fixing portion, wherein the biasing member issandwiched between the washer and one of the friction members, and thewasher is sandwiched between the biasing member and the fastener.
 8. Ahinge comprising: a first connecting member defining two through holesaligning with each other, and a clamping protrusion; a second connectingmember; a sleeve member fixed to the second connecting member, whereinthe sleeve member defines a spiral slide groove in a circumference froma first end to a second end of the sleeve member, to slidably receivethe clamping protrusion of the first connecting member; a shaftcomprising a shaft body and a fixing portion extending from a first endof the shaft body, wherein the shaft body is slidably and unrotatablypassed through the through holes of the first connecting member, thefixing portion is passed through the sleeve member to be rotatablymounted to the second connecting member; and a plurality of frictionmembers, wherein the plurality of friction members are fixedly fittedabout the fixing portion of the shaft, and respectively located atopposite sides of the second connecting member; wherein the clampingprotrusion slides in the slide groove and the shaft body slides relativeto the first connecting member, to drive the sleeve member and thesecond connecting member to move along the axial direction of the shaft,in response to the second connecting member being rotated relative tothe first connecting member.
 9. The hinge of claim 8, wherein the firstconnecting member comprises a fixing body, and an interfering portionextending from the fixing portion, a distal end of the interferingportion slantingly extends upwards to form an interfering block, and theclamping protrusion extends from the interfering block.
 10. The hinge ofclaim 9, wherein the fixing body comprises a first connecting sidewall,and a second connecting sidewall opposite to the first connectingsidewall, wherein the through holes of the first connecting member arerespectively defined in the first and second connecting sidewalls. 11.The hinge of claim 10, further comprising a clamping member and aresilient member, wherein the shaft body defines a clamping slot forengaging with the clamping member, the resilient member fits about theshaft body and located between the first and second connectingsidewalls, and opposite sides of the clamping member respectively resistagainst and the resilient member and one of the connecting sidewalls.12. The hinge of claim 8, wherein the second connecting member defines afirst fixing slot and a second fixing slot, and two clamping postsextend from one end of the sleeve member for engaging with the first andsecond fixing slots respectively.
 13. The hinge of claim 12, wherein thesleeve member axially defines a through hole for the shaft rotatablypassing therethrough, and the clamping posts are opposite to each otheracross the through hole of the sleeve member.
 14. The hinge of claim 8,further comprising a biasing member and a washer fixed to the fixingportion of the shaft, wherein the biasing member is rotatably mounted tothe fixing portion of the shaft, and the biasing member is sandwichedbetween the washer and one of the plurality of friction members.
 15. Thehinge of claim 14, further comprising a fastener fixed to a distal endof the fixing portion of the shaft, wherein the washer is sandwichedbetween the biasing member and the fastener.